The Flo Harris Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation, which began granting in 1991, is dedicated to continuing the generosity for charitable causes exhibited by Flo Harris during her lifetime.
During its 30 years of grant making, the fund has distributed nearly $3.5 million. The Flo Harris Foundation prioritizes funding for programs in the Jewish community and for those that serve children and young adults. It also supports innovative projects that could have a profound impact on a community issue or need, programs that specifically impact Jewish identity, and organizations that aid the elderly.
Flo Harris was a local icon who, with the help of her lawyer, had the vision to create a fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. Initially, Harris had a difficult time deciding which local Jewish organization to support through her estate plan. With her lawyer’s guidance, she established the Flo Harris Foundation to help numerous local Jewish and general community organizations. Harris' generosity through her legacy gift continues to meet critical needs across the community, though it’s been several years since her passing.
Thanks to her foresight and vision, and together with the Jewish Community Foundation's ability to execute her desires, Harris is addressing important current needs in a way that would have been impossible to predict through the lens of her day. Her generosity has inspired many others (of all different giving capacities) to follow her wonderful example. The Flo Harris name accompanies each of these grants.
Michael Klein, current president of the Flo Harris Foundation, also acknowledges the careful decision-making of the committee. He cites the hard work of Ron Baker, Merilyn Berenbom, Karen Cohn, Lindsay Fineman, Ronna Nussbaum, Ann Stern and Annie Wishna as part of the successful grant making team.
They are aided by the co-chairs of J-LEAD, JCF’s young adult giving circle, Louis Stein and Kris Zeid, who also participate in the grant making process.
In 2021, the Flo Harris Foundation’s 30th year of granting, a total of $174,000 was awarded. The following Jewish community programs received support:
- BBYO: Kansas City Middle School Programming - $4,500
- Friends of Sheffield Cemetery - $5,000
- Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: Financial Assistance - $15,000
- Jewish Community Center: J Youth Scholarships - $20,000
- Jewish Family Services: Chaplaincy; Help at Home; Jet Express; Mental Health Services; Older Adult Card Management; Priya - $35,100
- Jewish Federation: Passport to Israel Program-$6,700
- KU Hillel: Freshmen Engagement; Israel Programming; Mental Health Initiative - $10,000
- NCSY/Jewish Student Union Request: $1,800
- Rabbinical Association: 2021 and 2022 Passover And Community Passover and Purim Celebrations Grant: $12,000
- Torah Learning Center: KC Kosher Meals on Wheels - $5,000
- University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou) Hillel - $1,800
- Village Shalom: Indigent Care Program - $10,000
Grants were made for the following general community programs:
- After the Harvest - $2,500
- CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties - $5,000
- Community Linc - $2,500
- EPEC: The Grooming Project - $1,800
- Foster Adopt Connect - $5,000
- Happy Bottoms - $2,500
- Harmony Project KC (Northeast Community Center) - $2,000
- Harvesters - $1,800
- Hope Faith Ministries - $2,500
- Hope House Domestic Violence Shelter - $2,500
- Inclusion Connections: Community Connections - $1,000
- Jackson County CASA - $5,000
- Jewish Vocational Services: Emergency Aid for Clients - $2,500
- Kansas City Community Gardens - $1,000
- KidsTLC: Thriving Families - $2,500
- Phoenix Family Housing Request: $1,500
- Reconciliation Services - $2,000
- SafeHome - $3,500
During the difficult current economic climate, the Flo Harris Foundation trustees have chosen to focus on supporting organizations that have a history of receiving grant dollars from the fund. The Flo Harris Foundation is not currently seeking new applicants.
If readers have particular memories of Flo Harris that they would like to share or are interested in creating their own legacy gift, please contact Beatrice Fine at or (913) 327-4618.
